An organized approach to the study of the information needs of an organization's management at every level

in making operational, tactical, and strategic decisions. Its objective is to design and implement procedures, processes,
and routines that provide suitably detailed reports in an accurate, consistent, and timely manner.
In a management information system, modern, computerized systems continuously gather relevant data, both from inside
and outside an organization. This data is then processed, integrated, and stored in a centralized database (or data
warehouse) where it is constantly updated and made available to all who have the authority to access it, in a form that
suits their purpose.


History[edit]
Kenneth and Jane Laudon identify five eras of Management Information System evolution
corresponding to the five phases in the development of computing technology: 1) mainframe and
minicomputer computing, 2) personal computers, 3) client/server networks, 4) enterprise computing,
and 5) cloud computing.
[3]

The first era (mainframe and minicomputer) was ruled by IBM and their mainframe computers; these
computers would often take up whole rooms and require teams to run them - IBM supplied the
hardware and the software. As technology advanced, these computers were able to handle greater
capacities and therefore reduce their cost. Smaller, more affordable minicomputers allowed larger
businesses to run their own computing centers in-house.
The second era (personal computer) began in 1965 as microprocessors started to compete with
mainframes and minicomputers and accelerated the process of decentralizing computing power from
large data centers to smaller offices. In the late 1970s minicomputer technology gave way to
personal computers and relatively low cost computers were becoming mass market commodities,
allowing businesses to provide their employees access to computing power that ten years before
would have cost tens of thousands of dollars. This proliferation of computers created a ready market
for interconnecting networks and the popularization of the Internet.
As technological complexity increased and costs decreased, the need to share information within an
enterprise also grewgiving rise to the third era (client/server), in which computers on a common
network access shared information on a server. This lets thousands and even millions of people
access data simultaneously. The fourth era (enterprise) enabled by high speed networks, tied all
aspects of the business enterprise together offering rich information access encompassing the
complete management structure.Every computer is utilized.
The fifth era (cloud computing) is the latest and employs networking technology to deliver
applications as well as data storage independent of the configuration, location or nature of the
hardware. This, along with high speed cellphone and wifi networks, led to new levels of mobility in
which managers access the MIS remotely with laptop and tablet computers, plus smartphones.
Types and Terminology[edit]
The terms Management Information System (MIS), information system, Enterprise Resource
Planning (ERP), and information technology management are often confused. Information systems
and MIS are broader categories that include ERP.Information technology management concerns the
operation and organization of information technology resources independent of their purpose.
Most management information systems specialize in particular commercial and industrial sectors,
aspects of the enterprise, or management substructure.
Management information systems, produce fixed, regularly scheduled reports based on data
extracted and summarized from the firms underlying transaction processing systems
[4]
to middle
and operational level managers to identify and inform structured and semi-structured decision
problems.
Decision Support Systems (DSS) are computer program applications used by middle and higher
management to compile information from a wide range of sources to support problem solving
and decision making.DSS is majorly used for semi-structured and unstructured decision
problems.
Executive Information Systems (EIS) is a reporting tool that provides quick access to
summarized reports coming from all company levels and departments such as accounting,
human resources and operations.
Marketing Information Systems are Management Information Systems designed specifically for
managing the marketingaspects of the business.
Office Automation Systems (OAS) support communication and productivity in the enterprise by
automating work flow and eliminating bottlenecks. OAS may be implemented at any and all
levels of management.
School Information Management Systems (SIMS) cover school administration,and often
including teaching and learning materials.
Enterprise Resource Planning facilitates the flow of information between all business functions
inside the boundaries of the organization and manage the connections to outside stakeholders.
[5]

Advantages[edit]
The following are some of the benefits that can be attained for different types of MISs.
[6]

Companies are able to highlight their strengths and weaknesses due to the presence of revenue
reports, employees' performance record etc. The identification of these aspects can help the
company improve their business processes and operations.
Giving an overall picture of the company and acting as a communication and planning tool.
The availability of customer data and feedback can help the company to align their business
processes according to the needs of the customers. The effective management of customer
data can help the company to perform direct marketing and promotion activities.
MISs can help a company gain a competitive advantage. Competitive advantage is a firms
ability to do something better, faster, cheaper, or uniquely, when compared with rival firms in the
market.
Enterprise applications[edit]